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- Binghamton returns four starters and nine letterwinners from last year's squad that went 14-17 and tied for third in the America East Conference after being picked last (ninth) in the preseason poll. The Bearcats advanced to the conference semifinal for the first time since 2012 and was the eighth most improved NCAA Division I program in the nation.

- Junior guard Imani Watkins was named second-team America East All-Conference last season after averaging a team-best 16.0 points per game. Junior center Alyssa James, meanwhile, had 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game en route to being named third-team all-conference as well as the America East Defensive Player of the Year. Sophomore forward Rebecca Carmody was named to the America East All-Rookie Team.

Redshirt sophomore guard Jasmine Sina returns to the court after being named the 2015 America East Rookie of the Year but missing last season with an injury. In her freshman year, she averaged a team-best 14.8 points per game. 

Bucknell is the preseason pick to win the Patriot League and is ranked No. 20 in CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major Top 25. The Bison finished 25-8 last year and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. Senior forward Claire DeBoer was recently named the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year.

Binghamton has been picked to finish fourth in the America East this season -- its highest prediction since the 2011-12 campaign. In addition, junior guard Imani Watkins was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.

Bucknell leads the all-time series 6-2, having won the past five meetings. Most recently, the Bison took a 76-46 decision at home on Nov. 18, 2015. Imani Watkins led all scorers in that game with 20 points. Binghamton's last win in the series was a 58-57 victory at the old West Gym on Dec. 8. 2001. The Bison, however, have won both previous games at the Events Center.


BEARCATS BY THE NUMBERS

4
Binghamton was picked fourth in the America East preseason poll, marking its highest projection since the 2011-12 season. 

4
Binghamton has four players on its roster who have either been named all-conference or all-rookie by the America East during their careers (Jasmine Sina, Imani Watkins, Alyssa James and Rebecca Carmody).

4
Bucknell is one of four non-confernece opponents the Bearcats face this season that advanced to a national postseason tournament last year. The other three are Penn, Sacred Heart and Ohio. 

8
Junior center Alyssa James enters the season with eight career double-doubles. Most recently, she finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds against UMass Lowell on Feb. 20, 2016. 

8
During the 2015-16 season, Binghamton was the eighth-most improved Division I program.

11-8-13
Binghamton opens its season at home for the first time since facing Buffalo at the Events Center on Nov. 8, 2013.  

15
Junior guard Imani Watkins enters the season with 15 career 20-point games. Most recently, she finished with a career-high 30 points against UMBC on Feb. 24, 2016.

20
In last season's game at Bucknell (Nov. 18, 2015), Imani Watkins scored a game-high 20 points. 

90
After just one season, redshirt sophomore guard Jasmine Sina has already hit 90 three-point field goals, which ranks No. 11 all time in program history. 

92
With 92 career blocks, junior center Alyssa James already ranks sixth all time in program history. In fourth place, with 96 career rejections, is Sherae Swinson (2011-15). 

903
Junior guard Imani Watkins enters the 2016-17 season ranked No. 20 in program history with 903 career points.

1,528
Binghamton ranked second in the America East last season in terms of average home attendance with 1,528 fans per game.